U.S. patent number 6,018,893 [Application Number 08/826,597] was granted by the patent office on 2000-02-01 for athletic shoe having notched cleats.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Adidas International B.V.. Invention is credited to Steve Workman.
United States Patent |
6,018,893 |
Workman |
February 1, 2000 |
Athletic shoe having notched cleats
Abstract
An athletic shoe is including an outer sole having at least one
notched cleat of resilient material molded integral or removable to
the lower surface of the shoe sole. In one embodiment, a plurality
of notched cleats are disposed throughout the shoe sole. In a
second embodiment, a plurality of notched cleats extend outwardly
from and are disposed along the perimeter of the sole. Both
embodiments provide an improved measure of lateral stability. The
notch defining surfaces of the cleat act as teeth to cut through
and displace the ground to provide good traction under wet or dry
conditions on soft or hard surfaces. A plurality of other cleats of
different shapes and ground-engaging surface areas than the notched
cleats may also be molded integral or removable to the outer sole.
The athletic shoe is for use in sports such as football, soccer,
baseball, or ultimate frisbee played on natural grass, dirt, or
other soft or hard surfaces.
Inventors: |
Workman; Steve (Clackamas,
OR) |
Assignee: |
Adidas International B.V.
(DE)
|
Family
ID: |
25247012 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/826,597 |
Filed: |
April 3, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/134;
36/67R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C
15/00 (20130101); A43C 15/162 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43C
15/00 (20060101); A43C 15/16 (20060101); A43C
015/16 (); A43C 015/00 (); A43B 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/134,67A,67B,67D,67R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Patterson; M. D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Marger Johnson & McCollom,
P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shoe sole comprising:
a lower surface;
a peripheral edge; and
a plurality of cleats extending downwardly from the lower surface
of the sole, including at least one notched cleat having a body,
having surfaces defining a single axial notch, the single notch
having first and second peripheral axial edges, and a convex,
frusto-conical surface connecting the first and second peripheral
axial edges of the notch.
2. A shoe sole according to claim 1 wherein the body of the at
least one notched cleat is tapered.
3. A shoe sole according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional
shape of the at least one notched cleat includes at least two
straight lines which form an angle.
4. A shoe sole according to claim 1 wherein the surfaces defining
the axial notch are planar.
5. A shoe sole according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the
notched cleat distal end is rounded.
6. A shoe sole according to claim 1 wherein the at least one
notched cleat is adjacent the peripheral edge of the sole.
7. A shoe sole according to claim 1 wherein the notch faces the
peripheral edge of the sole.
8. A shoe sole comprising:
a lower surface with front, rear, lateral, and medial sides;
and
at least one notched cleat extending downwardly from said lower
surface, the at least one notched cleat having an axial length, a
first axial surface, a second axial surface, and the first axial
surface defining an axial notch in the at least one notched cleat,
and a continuous frusto-conical peripheral surface having first and
second axial edges, and first and second surfaces adjacent to the
respective first and second peripheral surface axial edges defining
a single axial notch.
9. A shoe sole according to claim 8 wherein the first and second
surfaces comprise a pair of adjacent planar surfaces.
10. A shoe sole according to claim 8 wherein the at least one
notched cleat is tapered.
11. A shoe sole according to claim 10 wherein the at least one
notched cleat is adjacent the peripheral edge of the sole.
12. A shoe sole according to claim 10 wherein the notch faces the
peripheral edge of the sole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to athletic shoes having cleated
soles, and in particular to athletic shoes in which the cleats are
axially notched.
Cleats are provided on athletic shoes to provide improved traction,
usually on natural surfaces. The prior art teaches various examples
of cleat arrangements on the sole of athletic shoes. U.S. Pat. No.
3,793,750 to Bowerman, teaches an athletic shoe having a sole with
integrally molded resilient studs or cleats. U.S. Pat. No.
3,932,950, to Taber teaches a shoe with a sole having a large
number of small closely spaced cylindrical or conical cleats.
While the cleated shoes taught in the prior art provide greater
traction on natural surfaces than uncleated shoes, their
performance is nonetheless limited by the degree of "ground
penetration" achieved by the cleats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the inherent limitations of cleated
shoes taught in the prior art by providing a cleated shoe having
improved ground penetration on natural surfaces, and therefore
improved traction.
A shoe according to the present invention includes an upper and a
sole. At least one axially notched cleat extends downwardly from
the sole, although the preferred embodiment includes multiple
notched cleats. The notched cleats are preferably molded as an
integral part of the sole, but the invention is not limited
thereto. The cleats could be permanently or removably affixed to
the sole by either an adhesive, or by mechanical means. In one
embodiment, a plurality of notched cleats are disposed around the
periphery of the sole. Notched or unnotched cleats are provided on
sole inboard of the peripheral notched cleats. The cleats are
preferably tapered from the sole to the distal end, although the
invention is not limited thereto. The cleat can be rounded,
rectangular, triangular, or of other cross-sectional shape. The
distal end is preferably crowned to facilitate ground
penetration.
The notches in the cleats are preferably V-shaped, with the
surfaces forming the notches oriented at about 90 degrees relative
to each other. In alternative embodiments, the notches curved.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the
invention will become more readily apparent from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention
which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of a shoe
sole, including notched cleats, according to the present
invention.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are a perspective side view of a preferred
embodiment of a tapered cleat with a V-shaped notch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Turning now to FIG. 1, a shoe according to the present invention is
shown generally at 10. Shoe 10 includes an upper 12 and a cleated
sole 14 attached to the bottom side thereof. Sole 14 is formed of
rubber or other suitable abrasion resistant materia known to those
skilled in the art. Sole 14 includes a bottom surface 16 and a
periphery 17. While it is well-known to enhance the traction of the
shoe on natural surfaces by providing cleats which protrude from
the sole, applicant has discovered that the enhanced traction
provided by the cleats can be further improved if the cleats are
formed with axial slots formed therein. One embodiment of a notched
cleat is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at 18. Cleat 18 of the embodiment
shown is frustaconical in shape with an axial notch 19 formed
therein. Cleat 18 could be frusta-pyramidical or cylindrical in
shape, for example. Distal end 33 of cleat 18 is flat in the
embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, but could be rounded, pointed, could
include ridges or other protrusions, or could be recessed in
alternate embodiments. Notch 19 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 is an acute V-shape. In other embodiments, notch 19 could be
more or less acute, right-angled, obtuse, or even curved without
departing from the scope of the claimed invention.
In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of notched cleats 18 are
provided on both the forefoot and heel regions of the shoe just
inboard of periphery 17. Additional unnotched cleats are provided
on the interior portions of the sole as well. In the embodiment
shown, the notched cleats 18 are oriented so that the notch 19
faces outwardly toward the peripheral edge of the shoe. In this
way, the relatively sharp edges of the cleat, which most readily
penetrate the ground, are positioned to do so as the wearer pushes
off. For example, the wearer of the right shoe shown in FIG. 1 who
cuts to the left pushes off of the medial edge of the right shoe.
As the wearer does so, the pointed portions 21 of the cleated
notches 18 along the medial edge of the sole are driven into the
ground, facilitating the penetration of the cleat and maximizing
traction. As an added benefit, the notched cleats' reduced overall
volume further aids in maximizing the penetration of the cleat.
With the particular arrangement of FIG. 1, when the wearer pushes
of in any direction, the pointed portions of at least one, and in
most cases several cleats are oriented to provide quick and sure
traction. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other
arrangements and orientations and combinations of notched and
unnotched cleats are possible without departing from the scope of
the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in
which the notched cleat is generally frustaconical in shape. In
other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the cleat may
include three, four, five, or more flat surfaces, and may be
untapered as well. Notched cleat 18 may be integrally molded with
the sole, or can be removable for replacement or substitution to
optimize the shoe for different surfaces and personal preferences
of the wearer.
From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment herein
described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
cleated sole of the present invention affords many advantages over
the prior art. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention
has been described in detail, it will be appreciated that other
alternative embodiments and modifications thereof are within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
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